In the world of severe erectile dysfunction, there’s really only one treatment option, and that’s a penile implant…and yet, it can seem like a drastic option for many men. A penile implant or inflatable penile prosthesis is an elegant and discreet solution for patients who are otherwise unable to achieve an erection of any kind. For starters, a penile implant can treat both intractable erectile dysfunction and significant penile curvature known as Peyronie’s Disease. In the penile implant market, there are two dominant players – Boston Scientific and Coloplast. They manufacture and market penile implants known as AMS 700 and Titan, respectively. Now, you may have seen that Dr. Natale is an AMS 700 center of excellence, but regardless of preference, this is an honest review of the two implants.
The feel of the device
One of the key qualities of a penile implant for most men is the natural feel, and this is where Boston Scientific’s AMS 700 really excels over the Coloplast Titan. The components used in the tubes of the implant, which replace the hollow penis, are made of incredibly soft and elastic silicone. This means that during an erection or even when the penis is relaxed, the implant is not noticeable at all. On the other hand, the Coloplast Titan is made of Bioflex, a harder polymer material that can develop noticeable kinks or bends when the penis is relaxed, which can be uncomfortable for some patients.
Risk of infection
Ultimately, the skill and knowledge of the urological surgeon play the most important role in the risk of infection, but penile implant devices have a few tricks up their sleeve to help, resulting in an average infection rate of over 1%. Here, AMS 700 and Titan differ in their methods but not so much in results.
The AMS 700 is pre-coated with an antibacterial compound, Inhibizone (Rifampin and Minocycline), allowing us to implant the device knowing there is built-in infection mitigation.
On the other hand, the Titan does not come with a pre-applied antibiotic coating, but a hydrophilic (liquid absorbing) coating that allows the surgeon to choose the antibiotic to be used. This is especially beneficial if a patient needs a specific antibiotic.
There is no noticeable difference in infection rates between the two.
Pump and valve release function.
Of course, another important component revolves around the pump and valve that is implanted in the scrotum and works to inflate the body tubes in the prosthesis and create an erection. The pumps and valves that eventually release water back into the water reservoir are efficient and allow discrete operation. However, when talking to patients, we found:
- The Titan implant was easier to inflate because of its softer material.
- The AMS 700’s valve release system was more intuitive than the Titan’s, due to the more prominent button and vibration on release.
Options
The size of the penile implant makes a difference. While we do not use this implant to increase the length or girth of a man’s penis, we do want to match the size of the implant to the man’s anatomy so that it remains as close to his original erection length as possible. Both manufacturers offer various sizes adapted to the male anatomy. However, Titan offers better options for men with larger penises.
Stiffness
While there is plenty of debate about which implant offers better stiffness, studies have shown that ultimately a man’s anatomy determines erectile stiffness, even when a penile prosthesis is implanted.
Bottom line
In the office of Dr. Natale, the AMS 700 penile implant manufactured by Boston Scientific is preferred mainly because of the comfort during the relaxed state of the penis. However, the decision of which implant to use is primarily based on the urologic surgeon’s preference, as both prostheses offer excellent results.
Most importantly, it is critical to find a surgeon with significant penile implant experience for several reasons.
- First, knowledge, experience and skill combine for better results. For example, the Center of Excellence designation of Dr. Natale indicates that he has successfully performed many of these procedures and has submitted results to prove this track record.
- Second, experienced implanters can tailor the procedure to ensure patient happiness and maintain excellent satisfaction rates of both prostheses among patients and their partners.
- Last, and certainly not least, skilled and experienced implant specialists can reduce the risks of surgery while minimizing the pain and discomfort a patient will experience after their implant.
For more information about your eligibility for a penile implant, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Christmas That way, you’ll learn more about options for severe erectile dysfunction, up to and including a penile implant, which can treat even the most complex cases of ED. You no longer have to live with erectile dysfunction.
